Apparatus and method for storing electronic receipts on a unified card

ABSTRACT

A Unified Card system allows customers to store receipts on a Unified Card when making purchases from different retailer merchants. The customer purchases goods or services and the receipt is recorded electronically onto a single Unified Card. This eliminates the need for paper receipts. The user can then use the Unified Card to make returns or exchanges or as proof of purchase. Unified Card readers can be located at Kiosks as part of a home based system that works with the user&#39;s home computer.

BACKGROUND

Many people start the work day by making a going to a gas station,parking to catch the train, then going to a Starbucks to pick up acoffee. Around mid day, people may stop by the local deli, Subway, orany restaurant to get our lunch followed by dessert if possible. At theend of the work day on the way back home, many people stop to pickup ourdry cleaning, then go to a grocery store to buy our daily essentialslike milk, juice, bread, etc. By the end of the week day, a person canaccumulate 10-12 paper receipts. Weekends can include many purchasessuch as shopping at stores, drive through food, movies, car washes, etc.Essentially, at the end of each week, people can collect a large amountof receipts most of which end up in their wallets waiting to bereconciled or used again for a return or exchange. This can be aninfinite cycle on a daily basis and millions of paper receipts aregenerated from sales that may not have an immediate use or need. At theend of the month, reconciling all of these receipts can be a very timeconsuming process.

Paper receipts are widely used throughout the world, where every singlecash register point of sale “POS” generates a paper receipt that isprinted for the end user or for a customer as a proof of sale. Thisaccumulation of receipts can become a necessary burden on the endcustomer since these receipts must be saved for returns, exchanges,taxes, tracking of personal spending, etc.

Many have tried to come up with a solution to this problem. For example,cloud data storage, credit card systems, many options forreceiving/storing receipts including scanners etc. There is no widelyknown system or method that overcomes the above issues. What is neededis a system that allows users to record all sales receipts, is simple tooperate and does not require personal information, and or preregistration to activate this service which can be stolen.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A Unified Card system and method can be used by customers to storereceipts from different retailer merchants like: Starbucks, Subway,McDonalds, Baskin Robin, or any other goods or service providers. Thecustomers can store all receipts on their Unified Card without having topre register, sign up, or even filling out a form.

Consumers can simply utilize the service by getting a Unified Card andusing it when purchases are made at stores that have the Unified Cardreader system installed. In an embodiment, the Unified Cards will beavailable free of charge at participating retailers. Simply using theUnified Card enables the customer to store any receipt from any vendoronto their Unified Card. In an embodiment, retailers will need to get alicense to install the Unified Card application software and cardreaders onto their register system. The license will allow merchants,vendors or retailers to use the Unified Card application services. Thelicense can be based upon various different schemes. For example, themerchant or corporate entity may pay a fee such as a monthly or annualfee. Alternatively, the license can be based upon the number oftransaction recorded onto the Unified Storage card. It is also possiblefor the license to be given for free.

Upon the installation of the application on the merchant's cashregisters some conditions may be applicable. For example, the merchant'sname, may need to be maintained for each associated shop. For example,an auto shop will be given an auto shop ID that gets generatedaccordingly as a credential to invoke the Unified Card component inorder to reserve a specific designated area in the unified card memoryfor this shop. A mutual active authentication protocol can be used toidentify each transaction from the different branches of the auto shop.

The system can provide various different security features for each shopand system component at all levels including: Communication, Hardware,Operating System and the Software. In an embodiment, the securityfeatures can include communications with small data packets that iscalled Application Protocol Data Units (APDUs), and cryptographicalgorithms that encrypt the data and transfer for this particular shop.These APDUs can be used as a command and response system between theUnified Card and reader as a secure mean of communication between theUnified Card and the card reader coupled to the merchant's registersystem or other kiosk or home systems. In other embodiments variousother security systems can be used to protect the data stored on theUnified Card.

In addition to the card readers at the merchant registers, the uses maybe able to access the recorded sales transactions through other cardreaders. Some card readers can be located at Kiosks that are at thestores. The Kiosks can have displays that allow the user to see alisting of transactions. The kiosks may also have special data outputsystems for blind people such as a headphone jack or Braille outputsystems. A home based card reader may also be available which isconnected to the user's home computer. The home system may allow a userto review all purchase transactions and perform certain tasks such asadd up spending in various formats such as monthly, weekly and dailyspending, spending by store, spending by time of day, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the communicationsprotocol for the inventive system;

FIG. 2 is a top view of an embodiment of the Unified Card;

FIG. 3 is a cross section view of an embodiment of the Unified Card;

FIG. 4 is a top view of an embodiment of the Unified Card having awireless communications system;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the Unified Card systemintegrated with a merchant register system;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a Unified Card systemkiosk;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a home kit Unified Cardsystem used with a personal computer;

FIG. 8 illustrates a flow chart with the steps for using a Unified Cardreceipt for a purchase;

FIG. 9 illustrates a flow chart with the steps for using a Unified Cardreceipt for a return or exchange;

FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of the Unified Card system used withmultiple merchants;

FIG. 11 illustrates a block diagram of the Unified Card system used withmultiple branches of multiple merchants; and

FIGS. 12-16 illustrate embodiments of merchant user interface screens.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In an embodiment, the present invention is directed towards a system andmethod for using a one Unified Card for each user to store all of his orher receipts for purchased goods and services. The goods and servicescan be purchased from different a single or multiple store retailers.The receipts for the goods and services can be stored in an electronicformat on the Unified Card.

The present invention combines both hardware and software devices. In anembodiment, the system includes a cash register and a card reader thatcan be connected to any cash register of the store retailers using a“USB” connector or any other suitable data connection. In addition tothe card reader, a software application can be run on the cash registersas well. The software may enable the cash register to automaticallyrecognize the data connection with the card reader. Once the softwareand card reader are configured, the system is ready to record receiptdata on the Unified Cards.

With reference to FIG. 1, the system can include various hardware andsoftware components that communicate with each other. In an embodiment,the system can include an application 105 which can be software runningon a computer within the merchant's check out system. The application105 can communicate with a card reader 107 that is a hardware devicethat is coupled to the merchant's cash register check out system. Thecard reader 107 communicates with the Unified Card 109 which can includean application protocol data unit (APDU) processor 111 that performsvarious functions including recording the receipt data and erasingreceipt data.

After the Unified Card 109 has been placed in the card reader 107, themerchant's register can communicate and record information. For examplea purchase can be made and the application can issue an APDU whichincludes the receipt data. The reader 107 transmits the APDU as acommand to the Unified Card 109. The APDU is received by the APDUprocessor 111 which records the receipt data. The APDU processor 111 canproduce a response to the APDU which is transmitted back through theUnified Card 109 and card reader 107 to the application 105. Theresponse can be a confirmation signal which indicates that the requestedAPDU command was or was not completed. The system may also include aclock which generates a time signal T=0, 1, 2, . . . which can indicatethe date and time of purchase or return transactions. In otherembodiments, the time data can be organized in a different timemeasurement standard. The time data can be recorded with the APDU.Additional functional details of the Unified Card will be describedlater.

With reference to FIG. 2, a top view of an embodiment of the UnifiedCard 109 is illustrated. The Unified Card 109 can have a group ofelectrical contacts 115 arranged in a small rectangular shape or anyother suitable shape. The illustrated example is one possible contactpad configuration of the Unified Card with the electrical signals forthe contacts identified. In this example, the contact pads are labeledand their function is described in Table 1 below. In other embodiments,the Unified Card 109 can have any arrangement of electrical contacts 115and any function applied to each of the contacts 115.

TABLE 1 Label Function C1-VCC Power supply input C2-RST Reset signal,used to reset the card's communications C3-CLK Clock signal from whichdata communications timing is determined C4 Can be AUX1 used for USBinterfaces or other communications requirements C5-GND Electrical groundused with power supply and other input signals C6-VPP Programmingvoltage input which can be a signal input used to program persistentmemory C7-I/O Serial input and output C8 Can be AUX2 used for USBinterfaces or other communications requirements

In the electrical contact embodiment, the Unified Card can have a smallelectrical contact area which can be approximately 1 square centimeterand may comprise several contact pads 115. These contact pads 115provide electrical connectivity when inserted into a reader. The UnifiedCards 109 may not contain batteries and power for the electricalprocessing can be supplied by the card reader. The card reader can haveelectrical contacts that correspond to the electrical contact pads 115on the Unified Card. When the Unified Card is placed in the card reader,the electrical contacts come into contact with the electrical contactpads. The card reader can provide electrical power to the C1-VCC andC5-GND contact pads.

With reference to FIG. 3, a cross sectional view of an embodiment of theUnified Card is illustrated showing the electrical contact pads 115 andthe APDU processor 111. The electrical contact pads 115 can be coupledto the APDU processor 111 by wires 117. The bottom of the APDU processor111 can be protected by a dielectric encapsulation material 121 and thewires 117 can run through the encapsulation material 121. The APDUprocessor 111 can be bonded to a lower surface of a substrate 119 withan adhesive material 123 and the electrical contact pads 115 can bemounted on an upper surface of the substrate 119. Another adhesive 125can be used to attach the substrate to the Unified Card 109. The uppersurface of the electrical contact pads 115 can be in the same plane orrecessed from the upper surface of the Unified Card 109. In otherembodiments, the components of the Unified Card 109 can be arranged indifferent configurations.

In another embodiment, the Unified Card may not have exposed electricalcontacts that require a physical electrical connection. For example,with reference to FIG. 4, the Unified Card 110 may have a contactlessdevice that can communicate with and be powered by the card readerthrough radio frequency (RF) induction technology. Rather than havingelectrical contacts, the Unified Card 130 can have a contactlesscommunications mechanism that uses RF signals to transmit and receivedata. The Unified Card 130 can include an antenna 131 and an APDUprocessor 133. These cards 130 may only require that it be placedproximity to an antenna to communicate at distances up to 20 inches ormore with the card reader. The card reader can emit RF signals whichtransmit data signals to the Unified Card 130 and are used to power theUnified Card 130. The wireless Unified Cards antenna 131 can include abuilt-in inductor that uses resonant inductive coupling to capture someof the incident electromagnetic signal and rectify the RF signal topower the card's electronics including the APDU processor 133. Thewireless card reader may not have any moving parts since there is nophysical contact between the Unified Card 130 and the card reader.

With reference to FIG. 5, an embodiment of the merchant's registersystem 200 is illustrated. The system 200 may include a merchant servercomputer 203 and one or more merchant registers 205. A card reader 107can be coupled to can be in communication with each of the merchantregisters 205. The merchant registers 205 can each have a user interface221, an operating system 223, a database 225, a set of services anddevices 227 and the application program 229. The server 203 can maintainrecords of all transactions recorded by the merchant registers 205.Although one server 203 is illustrated in FIG. 5, in other embodiments,data can be stored in multiple servers 203 distributed through theinternet to provide a cloud computing system whereby shared resources,software, and information are provided to Unified Card system componentsand other devices on demand. This cloud computing system can be appliedto all other embodiments of the present invention.

In addition to card readers that are coupled to the vendor's cashregisters, additional card readers can be placed kiosks that can belocated at other sites. With reference to FIG. 6, in an embodiment, thevendor's site may include a card reader kiosk machine 301 that wouldallow customers instant access to the electronic receipt if needed.These kiosk machines 301 may enable the customer to verify, review, andcalculate his daily receipts. The kiosk machine 301 may include a userinterface 321, an operating system 323, a security system 325, a set ofservices and devices 327 and the kiosk application program 329. Thesecurity system 325 may prevent unauthorized access to the recordedpurchase transactions. For example a user of the Unified Card mayprogram the card to require a user to input a personal identificationnumber (PIN) or password before the kiosk 301 will allow the recordeddata to be accessed. In other embodiments, various other securitymechanisms can be incorporated into the kiosk machine 301. The kioskapplication program 329 is different than the application program usedwith the merchant registered because the kiosk does not recordtransactions. Thus, the kiosk application 329 may allow recordedpurchase data to be read from the Unified Card but may not have theability to write data through the card reader 307 to the Unified Cards.

In an embodiment, the kiosk machine 301 may be coupled to a printer 335for printing a receipt for a selected purchase transaction. In otherembodiments, the kiosk 301 may be coupled to another output device whichcan be used to output the receipt. For example, the kiosk 301 mayinclude a USB port so that a user can insert a USB flash memory deviceinto the port so an electronic copy of the receipt can be recorded tothe memory device. Alternatively, the kiosk 301 may include an audiooutput or audio port that would enable a blind person to insert aspeaker to hear a description of the selected purchase transaction. Inan embodiment, these kiosks machine 301 may only recognize the receiptsfor the merchant associated with the Kiosk machine 301 that are storedon the Unified Card. In other embodiments, the kiosk machines 301 mayrecognize all receipts stored on the Unified Card.

In an embodiment, the kiosk machines 301 can be coupled to the internet500 or other network to allow secure communications to a main systemserver. This can provide a security system. For example, if the UnifiedCard is lost, a user can notify the system server that the serial numberof other identification number is associated with a lost Unified Card.If the Unified Card is inserted into a card reader 307, the system readthe serial or identification number. The system can then compare thenumber to a list of numbers for lost cards. If the number is notassociated with a lost card, the system can continue to operate.However, if the number is identified as a lost Unified Card, the systemblock all viewing and use of the data stored on the Unified Card.

In yet another embodiment with reference to FIG. 7, the card readers canbe part of a Home Kit reader that will comprise the reader and a CD thatshall contain Unified Card application software as an executableinstallation application to enable the end customer of download theapplication software and attach a card reader 407. The personal computersystem 401 may include a user interface 421, an operating system 423, asecurity system 425, a set of services and devices 427 and the homeapplication program 429. Like the kiosk system, the security system 425may prevent unauthorized access to the recorded purchase transactions.For example a user of the Unified Card may program the card to require auser to input a personal identification number (PIN) or password beforepersonal computer system 401 will allow the recorded data stored on theUnified Card to be accessed. In other embodiments, various othersecurity mechanisms can be incorporated into the personal computersystem 401. The home application program 429 can be different than theapplication program used with the merchant register or the kiosk becausethe home system may allow a user to view transaction from all merchants.

In an embodiment, the home kit may also allow the user to performadditional tasks. The home kit may include a spend analysis tool ordynamic reporting to enable the end customer of getting whateverinformation he or she may need anytime. For example, the home kitapplication, may include programs for producing reports regardingsumming all purchases made from one or more user identified merchants,summing all purchases made in a user defined time frame, reporting acumulative purchase volume for a user defined time frame, comparedifferent purchase volumes, etc. Because items are not purchased fromhome, the home application 429 may only allow recorded data to be readfrom the Unified Card and the home application 429 may not have theability to write data through the card reader 407 to the Unified Cards.In other embodiments, the inventive Unified Card may be used to recordreceipts for on-line purchase transactions over the internet 500 throughthe home kit and personal computer 401.

The personal computer system can also use the internet connection forsecure communications to a main system server. If the Unified Card islost, a user can notify the system server that the serial number ofother identification number is associated with a lost Unified Card. Ifthe card is inserted into a card reader 407, the system read the serialor identification number. The system can then compare the number to alist of numbers for lost cards. If the number is not associated with alost card, the system can continue to operate. However, if the number isidentified as a lost card, the system can block all viewing and use ofthe data stored on the Unified Card.

The inventive system can be implemented in various different ways. Forexample, a merchant can obtain the application software, the card readerand a Unified Card software use license. The merchant can then installthe card readers and software on one or more of the store cash registercomputers. The installation can be performed by running a secured “exe”file that contains the application program. A security pass code can begiven to the merchant after getting the license. The security pass codecan be a “one time insertion” which is used to activate the license toprotect the component of not being hacked or stolen The pass code mayinclude a security feature that looks up the computer's Mac address toguarantee that the application program is only installed on thiscomputer. If the Mac address does not match the expected addressassociated with the security pass code, the program may not be allowedto fully function on the unauthorized merchant computer. After theapplication software and the card reader have been installed, the backend component such as a scanner or other goods input device getsregistered on the computer. The system components can also havelisteners or other detection devices to pick up whatever information isneeded for the electronic receipts to receive from any POS applicationand recorded onto the Unified Card.

With reference to FIG. 8, a flow chart is illustrated for an exemplaryprocess for using the Unified Card. A customer drops by a store to makea purchase 501. For example, a customer may go to a Subway to buy asandwich. The cashier asks the customer for his or her Unified Card andin response, the customer gives his or her Unified Card to the cashier503. The cashier or the customer inserts the Unified Card into the cardreader 505. The cashier then clicks into the button displayed on the POSscreen (e-receipt). The items being purchased are identified by the cashregister system 507. For example, a sandwich can be identified and thecost of the item can be displayed. The receipt information for theitem(s) being purchased is written electronically onto the Unified Card509. The Unified Card can then removed from the card reader and takenwith the purchased goods by the customer 511.

In an embodiment, a user can purchase goods through the home computer'sinternet connection. This process is similar to the store merchantprocess described above. During the internet purchase, the user caninsert the Unified Card into the home kit card reader and the on-linepurchase receipt can be recorded onto the Unified Card through the cardreader. After the purchase has been made and the sales receipt has beenwritten to the Unified Card, the card can be kept in the card reader tofor additional internet purchase receipts or returns. The Unified Cardcan also be removed from the card reader and used for other storepurchase transactions.

With reference to FIG. 9, a flow chart is illustrated for an exemplaryprocess for using the Unified Card to return a purchased good(s). Theuser goes to the store to return the intended item 515. In most casesthe user will go to the store where the purchase was made. However, insome cases, the user may return the item at a different branch locationof the store. The user then provides his or her Unified Card to thecashier 517. The cashier places the Unified Card into the card reader519 and the cashier can also identify the good(s) being returned 521.The system compares the receipt data stored on the Unified Card to theidentified good(s) being returned 523. If the item corresponds to thereceipt data and the return or exchange is within the requiredguidelines set by the store, the return or exchange is validated. Thesystem can delete the returned item receipt data from the Unified Cardand write the exchange item onto the Unified Card 525. Alternatively, ifthe item does not match the receipt data or the return or exchange isnot permitted by the store guidelines, the return or exchange can beinvalid. In this case, the system blocks the return of the items and maynot modify the receipt data recorded on the Unified Card 527.

The Unified Card system may also be used by the home computer kit forprocessing sales receipts for returned good(s) sent back to on-lineretailers. If a user wishes to return items purchased on-line, the usercan mail the good(s) back to the merchant. When the good(s) arereceived, the merchant may send the user a message to the userconfirming the return of the good(s). The user can then insert theUnified Card into the home computer card reader and log onto themerchant's web site. The system will communicate with the merchant's website to allow the purchase receipt for the good(s) to be modified ordeleted from the Unified Card to correspond to the return of thegood(s).

In an embodiment, the system may record the invalid return/exchanges andidentify Unified Card users as suspicious if they have a number ofinvalid returns that is greater than a predetermined number within apredetermined time period. For example, a user may be considered to besuspicious if there are more than 10 invalid returns in a time period ofthe last 3 months. These threshold values can vary depending upon thesystem operator or merchant guidelines. If the system determines that auser is suspicious, the merchant may take defensive actions to preventfraud.

As discussed, the Unified Card can be used to record receipt data frommultiple merchants. With reference to FIG. 10, a drawing showingmultiple merchants 565 and different items purchased from each of themerchants is illustrated as being recorded by placing a Unified Card 527in communication with a card reader 107 that is coupled to a merchantregister 205. In order to keep purchases made at other merchant'sconfidential the recorded receipts are encoded and stored on the UnifiedCard 527 in a secure manner such that the receipt data for each merchantis unique. Every store can have its own secured and private encrypteddesignated data and every receipt is stored on the Unified Card with itsown secured read/write encrypted binary code. For example, if theUnified Card 527 is used to make purchases at Starbucks 551, Walmart553, 7-Eleven 555, Subway 557 and a gas station 559, the registers 205and card readers 107 located at each merchant's stores may only be ableto view items purchased from their store. Thus, the Starbucks' salesreceipts may only be viewed by Starbucks and if the Unified Card 527 isbrought to a Walmart, the Starbucks' sales receipt data will not beaccessible to the Walmart registers 205 or card readers 107.

In an embodiment, data and component security are provided on theUnified Card software itself. For example, data security can be providedwherein data gets encrypted to be saved into the Unified Card using acryptography algorithm. This encryption of the data on the Unified Cardis stored in a very secure manner. In an embodiment, an ID code can begenerated based upon a merchant specified configuration and the ID codecan be stored as a binary files where it may never be read or bedecrypted. The ID code can be processed with symmetric-key encryptionwhich is plaintext encryption of different ciphertext with differentkeys. The security of encrypted data can be entirely dependent upon thestrength of the cryptographic algorithm and the secrecy of the keys.Since this encryption information is kept secret, it can be extremelydifficult to decrypt or hack into the stored data on the Unified Card.

In an embodiment, the Unified Card system can include a softwaresecurity component that can be installed onto each merchant machine andor register that is coupled to a card reader. The software securitycomponent can use a machine specific mac address to authenticate themachine before allowing the Unified Card system to operate. Themerchant's software system can also expect the software securitycomponent to be installed on each of these machines. The softwaresecurity component can use the shop specific key to read write datausing shop specific data store information. Thus, nothing more than whatis given is provided to the Unified Card except for the encryption codeitself. Using the described security systems and methods, it can take anextremely difficult to extract the encrypted data from the Unified Cardwithout having the required encryption information.

With reference to FIG. 11, many merchants have many local retail stores.Thus, a consumer may shop at any number of different stores that areoperated by or franchises of the same merchant. In order to allow theUnified Card 527 to be used to exchange or return goods at anyassociated store, the system may use the same security mechanisms forall stores. For example, the receipt data written on the Unified Card527 at a Starbucks #1 551 will be in the same security format as thereceipt data written at Starbucks #2 561 and Starbucks #3 571. Thus,receipt data written at Starbucks #1 can be read by the register systems205 located at Starbucks #2 561 and Starbucks #3 571. However, receiptdata written on the Unified Card 527 at all Subway stores 557, 567, 577or Wal-Mart stores 553, 563, 573 cannot be ready by any registers 205located at any Starbucks 551, 561, 571.

In general, these chains of retail stores may also allow items to bepurchased at one store and returned or exchanged at another store. Forexample, a first item purchased at a first Wal-Mart store 553 can bereturned at a second Wal-Mart store 573. The user will insert theUnified Card 527 into the card reader 107 located at the first Wal-Martstore 553 which records the receipt. The user may then go to a secondWal-Mart store 573 and insert the Unified Card 527 into the card reader107 at that store. The card reader 107 at the second Wal-Mart store 573will read the receipt data recorded at the first Wal-Mart store 553 andallow the goods to be returned or exchanged at a second Wal-Mart store573.

In some cases, one company may own multiple stores that sell the sameitems. For example, GAP, Old Navy and Banana Republic are all commonlyowned merchants. If a Unified Card is used to make a purchase at a GAP,the items may be returned later for store credit. In an embodiment, thestore credit may be stored as receipt data on the Unified Card. Ratherthan limiting the use of the store credit to GAP only, the system mayalso allow the store credit to be used at the other commonly ownedstores including Old Navy and Banana Republic.

In an embodiment, the receipts data to be stored on the unified storagecard and the user interface for the merchant registers can be purelycustomized based upon the merchants' preferences or the end customerneeds. For example, with reference to FIGS. 12-15, data screens can beconfigured for a preferred sales receipt input and receipt datarecording to the Unified Card. In some cases, the Unified Cards can beintegrated with other purchase programs such as frequent flier miles,club membership points, purchase assistance programs or other purchasesystems. In these embodiments, the system may record points or dollarsspent on goods and services using a specific type of purchasetransaction such as a credit card.

In other embodiments, different programs such as food purchaseassistance programs can be associated with the Unified Card. One exampleof a food purchase assistance program is Women, Infants and Children(“WIC”). In some situations, an end user may need to verify the goodspurchased with the food purchase assistance program to confirmcompliance with the program rules. In these embodiments, the presentinvention can be configured to incorporate the required inputs for thesepurchase programs into the user interface and receipt data recordation.In these embodiments, the Unified Card system can be configured with aWIC option and the installer shall choose whether the purchase is WIC orNON WIC. If the purchase is a WIC transaction, the installed registersoftware component shall utilize WIC rules associated with the WICpurchase requirements. In particular under the WIC rules, purchaseditems cannot be returned or exchanged at the WIC business, unless thecustomer is still at the shop itself. The WIC rules can also be used tomanage store vouchers IDs used for the purchase transactions, WIC totaland the like. More details regarding the WIC rules are disclosed in USPatent Publication No. 20060047569 which is hereby incorporated byreference.

With reference to FIG. 12, a Unified Card user may make a purchase at aSubway store 1. When the purchase is made, the application program canread the Unified Card of the customer and the merchant register maydisplay a first input window. The system displays the Shop Name asSubway and the Shop ID as 1. In this example, the system has beenconfigured to include an input for WIC. The first input screen asks thecashier if the transaction is a WIC purchase or a Non WIC purchase. Inthis example, the cashier has indicated that the purchase is a Non WICpurchase. In some stores, the Unified Card system has been configured asa NON WIC store and the system will automatically choose “NON WIC.”Thus, the cashier may not need to select WIC or NON WIC. In otherembodiments, stores like FoodMax and other stores that shall deal withboth “WIC/NON WIC” at the same time we will adopt WIC transaction as anormal sales transaction to simplify things and cases. In theseembodiments, the cashier can manually select either WIC or NON WIC. Thesave button can be clicked by the cashier and the next window can bedisplayed or the exit button can be pressed to cancel the transaction.

With reference to FIG. 13, a data input screen is illustrated after acashier has selected a

NON WIC transaction. In this example, the user interface screen showsthe bar code, price, quantity and total price. The bar code can be inputmanually or through a scanning device such as a laser checkout scanner.In this example, the bar code number 1234567ASD is a reference numberrepresenting the entire receipt. Within the receipt there can be barcode numbers for each individual item in the entire receipt. In thisexample, the bar code number 09088888TYT can be associated with aspecific product that has been purchased, the price is $10 per unit andthe quantity is 90. Thus, the total price of $900 is 90 units times$10/unit. The cashier can press the “OK” button and the next screen canbe illustrated. Alternatively, if the clear button is clicked, the inputdata can be erased or if the cancel button is clicked, the transactioncan be cancelled.

With reference to FIG. 14, a user interface screen is illustrated askingif the system should “Add eReceipt”, “Read/Refresh eReceipts” or “ManualFormat.” By actuating the Add eReceipt button, the eReceipt will bewritten to the Unified Card that has been placed in the card reader orin the proximity of the RF card reader. Alternatively, the cashier canactuate the Read/Refresh eReceipts button to read the recorded receiptson the Unified Card. The cashier can also press Manual Format whichprovides the option to print a physical receipt such as a paper receiptwith or without any electronic recording on the Unified Card. In thisexample, the user interface screen displays the Bar Code 1234567ASDrepresenting the entire purchase receipt, the transaction date, Bar Code09088888TYT which represents one specific item of the receipt, the unitprice, the purchase quantity and the total purchase cost.

With reference to FIG. 15, if the customer needs to return or replacesome of the purchased goods, he or she can return to the store and placethe Unified Card in the card reader. The barcode or other identificationlabel for the item being returned can be scanned or input by thecashier. In this case, the bar code 09088888TYT is input and the systemsearches the electronic receipt for goods that correspond to thisidentification bar code. The Bar Code 1234567ASD representing the entirepurchase receipt and the Bar Code 09088888TYT which represents item onthe receipt, the unit price, the purchase quantity and the totalpurchase cost of the transaction are than displayed. The cashier has theelectronic receipt and the return or exchange can be processed. Thereturn or exchange transaction can be recorded onto the Unified Card.

With reference to FIG. 16, if the cashier had selected a WIC purchasethe user interface can display a WIC transaction screen. The WICpurchase user interface can include inputs or windows for Customer ID,Invoice No. WIC Total and Item Count. The Customer ID can be thecustomer's WIC ID. The invoice number can be the invoice identificationnumber. The WIC total can be the total dollar WIC purchase value. TheItem Count can be the number of items being purchased through the WICtransaction. The card reader can also read the recorded transactionswhich can be listed on the lower portion of the user interface screen.

The present disclosure, in various embodiments, includes components,methods, processes, systems and/or apparatus substantially as depictedand described herein, including various embodiments, subcombinations,and subsets thereof Those of skill in the art will understand how tomake and use the present disclosure after understanding the presentdisclosure. The present disclosure, in various embodiments, includesproviding devices and processes in the absence of items not depictedand/or described herein or in various embodiments hereof, including inthe absence of such items as may have been used in previous devices orprocesses, e.g., for improving performance, achieving ease and/orreducing cost of implementation. Rather, as the flowing claims reflect,inventive aspects lie in less than all features of any single foregoingdisclosed embodiment.

1. A system for storing receipts comprising: a card having a memorydevice for storing purchasing data; a first merchant register coupled toa card reader having a first encryption scheme for writing the purchasedata to the memory device of the card and reading the purchasing datahaving the first encryption scheme; a second merchant purchasingregister coupled to a card reader having a second encryption scheme forwriting the purchase data to the memory device of the card and readingthe purchasing data having the second encryption scheme; wherein thefirst merchant register and the first card reader cannot read thepurchasing data having the second encryption scheme and the secondmerchant register and the second card reader cannot read the purchasingdata having the first encryption scheme.
 2. The system of claim 1further comprising: a user card reader for reading the purchasing datahaving the first encryption scheme or the second encryption scheme. 3.The system of claim 2 wherein the user card reader cannot write thepurchasing data to the memory device.
 4. The system of claim 1 furthercomprising: a first kiosk card reader located in the proximity of thefirst merchant for reading the purchasing data having the firstencryption scheme, the user card reader cannot write the purchasing datato the memory device in the first encryption scheme or the secondencryption scheme.
 5. The system of claim 4 wherein the first kiosk cardreader cannot read the purchasing data having the second encryptionscheme.
 6. The system of claim 4 further comprising: a second kiosk cardreader located in the proximity of the second merchant for reading thepurchasing data having the second encryption scheme, the user cardreader cannot write the purchasing data to the memory device in thefirst encryption scheme or the second encryption scheme.
 7. The systemof claim 6 wherein the second kiosk card reader cannot read thepurchasing data having the first encryption scheme.
 8. A system forstoring receipts comprising: a card having a memory device for storingpurchasing data; and a first merchant register coupled to a card readerhaving a first encryption scheme for writing the purchasing data to thememory device of the card and reading the purchasing data having thefirst encryption scheme; wherein the first merchant register and thefirst card reader cannot read the purchasing data having an encryptionscheme other than the first encryption scheme.
 9. The system of claim 8further comprising: a user card reader for reading the purchasing datahaving the first encryption scheme; wherein the user card reader cannotread the purchasing data having an encryption scheme other than thefirst encryption scheme.
 10. The system of claim 8 further comprising: akiosk card reader located in the proximity of the first merchant forreading the purchasing data having the first encryption scheme, the usercard reader cannot read or write the purchasing data to the memorydevice.
 11. A method for storing receipts comprising: generating firstreceipt data from a first merchant register based upon a first purchaseof goods; encrypting the first receipt data by the first merchantregister; transmitting the first receipt data that has been encrypted toa first card reader; writing the first receipt data in a first encryptedscheme by the first card reader to a memory device in the unified card.12. The method of claim 11 further comprising: inserting the unifiedcard into the first card reader before the first receipt data has beenwritten.
 13. The method of claim 11 further comprising: removing theunified card from the card reader after the first receipt data has beenwritten.
 14. The method of claim 11 further comprising: placing theunified card within a data transmission range of the first card readerbefore the first return data has been written, wherein the first cardreader emits an RF data signal.
 15. The method of claim 11 furthercomprising: inserting the unified card into a kiosk card reader afterthe first receipt data has been written; and displaying the firstreceipt data on a kiosk display.
 16. The method of claim 11 furthercomprising: inserting the unified card into a home computer card readerafter the first receipt data has been written; and displaying the firstreceipt data on a home computer display.
 17. The method of claim 11further comprising: generating second receipt data from a secondmerchant register based upon a second purchase of goods; encrypting thesecond receipt data by the second merchant register; transmitting thesecond receipt data that has been encrypted to a second card reader; andwriting the second receipt data in a second encrypted scheme by thesecond card reader to the memory device of the unified card; wherein thefirst card reader cannot read the second receipt data having the secondencryption scheme and the second card reader cannot read the firstreceipt data having the first encryption scheme.
 18. The method of claim17 further comprising: inserting the unified card into the first cardreader before the second receipt data has been written.
 19. The methodof claim 18 further comprising: removing the unified card from the cardreader after the second receipt data has been written.
 20. The method ofclaim 17 further comprising: placing the unified card within a datatransmission range of the second card reader, wherein the second cardreader emits an RF data signal.
 21. The method of claim 11 furthercomprising: inserting the unified card into the kiosk card reader afterthe second receipt data has been written; displaying the second receiptdata on a kiosk display; and preventing the display of the first receiptdata on the kiosk display.
 22. The method of claim 11 furthercomprising: inserting the unified card into a home computer card readerafter the first receipt data has been written; and displaying the firstreceipt data on a home computer display.
 23. The method of claim 11further comprising: reading the first receipt data by the first cardreader to confirm a purchase of a first purchase of goods; returning thefirst item to the first merchant register; generating first return datafrom the first merchant register based upon the return of the firstpurchase of goods; encrypting the first return data by the firstmerchant register; transmitting the first return data that has beenencrypted to a first card reader; writing the first return data in thefirst encrypted scheme by the first card reader to the memory device inthe unified card.
 24. The method of claim 23 further comprising:inserting the unified card into the first card reader before the firstreturn data has been written.
 25. The method of claim 23 furthercomprising: removing the unified card from the card reader after thefirst return data has been written.
 26. The method of claim 23 furthercomprising: placing the unified card within a data transmission range ofthe first card reader before the first return data has been written,wherein the first card reader emits an RF data signal.